CLINICAL COUNSELOR - Avenal State Prison (ASP)

California Correctional Health Care Services; Corcoran (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Potential $5,000 referral bonus

Supportive work environment

Job summary

A health services provider in California is hiring a Clinical Counselor to work in Mental Health Services at Avenal State Prison. The role involves applying counseling interventions and psychotherapeutic techniques to improve the mental health of incarcerated individuals. Candidates must be licensed and experienced in mental health settings. This position aims to develop wellness strategies for the incarcerated population. The successful candidate will contribute to a diverse team focused on effective rehabilitation and community reintegration.

Qualifications

• Must be licensed to practice as a counselor in California.
• Experience working in mental health settings preferred.
• Ability to handle sensitive situations with empathy and professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Work in Mental Health Services providing counseling to inmates.
• Apply intervention techniques to improve mental health.
• Develop preventive wellness strategies for incarcerated patients.

Skills

Counseling interventions

Psychotherapeutic techniques

Mental health services

Preventive strategies

Education

Relevant degree (Psychology or Social Work)

Job description

Overview

Vision
We enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs.

Mission
To facilitate the successful reintegration of the individuals in our care back to their communities equipped with the tools to be drug-free, healthy, and employable members of society by providing education, treatment, rehabilitative, and restorative justice programs, all in a safe and humane environment.

CDCR and CCHCS strive to collaborate with the community to enhance public safety and promote successful community reintegration through education, treatment and active participation in rehabilitative and restorative justice programs. Incumbents establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within the department, other governmental agencies, health care partners, and communities.

CDCR/CCHCS values all team members. We work cooperatively to provide the highest level of health care possible to a diverse correctional population, which includes medical, dental, nursing, mental health, and pharmacy. We encourage creativity and ingenuity while treating others fairly, honestly, and with respect, all of which are critical to the success of the CDCR/CCHCS mission.

This advertisement is for a Clinical Counselor position(s) located at Avenal State Prison (ASP), in Avenal, CA, located in Kings County.

Please indicate the position number on your application: 026-220-0050-XXX.

Note: Main communication for this position will be through email. Please ensure to have a valid email address on your application.

Department Website: https://cchcs.ca.gov/careers

Job Description And Duties

Effective July 1, 2025, in accordance with the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025) was implemented. PLP 2025 requires each full-time employee in Bargaining Unit 19 and related Excluded, Exempt and Statutory Exempt employees, will have their base salary reduced by 3 percent and will receive 5 PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 2027. Salaries do not reflect the recent changes.

Part-time employees are subject to the same conditions as full-time employees, on a prorated basis equivalent to their time-base. Permanent intermittent employees are subject to the same condition as full-time employees, based on the number of hours worked in the pay period.

This Job Control is listed Until Filled. Applications will be reviewed on the following dates: 2/27/26, 3/13/26, 3/27/26, 4/10/26, 4/24/26, 05/08/26, 5/29/26, 6/12/26, 6/26/26, 7/10/26, 7/24/26, 8/7/26, 8/21/26, 9/4/26, 9/18/26, 10/2/26, 10/16/26, 10/30/26, 11/13/26, 11/27/26, 12/11/26

IMPORTANT : California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) employees may be eligible for a $5,000 referral bonus should you be selected for hire, and remain employed with CCHCS for 90 days. For a CDCR/CCHCS employee to be considered, a questionnaire must be completed to the best of your knowledge, including the referring employee’s name, classification, PERNR, and work location. The questionnaire will be provided to the selected candidate during the pre-employment process.

Clinical Counselor

Under the general direction of the Sr. Psychologist, Supv/Supervising Psychiatric Social Worker I, the Clinical Counselor (CC) works in Mental Health Services. The CC applies counseling interventions and psychotherapeutic techniques within the scope of applicable Business and Professions Code(s) and license, for the purpose of improving an incarcerated individual’s mental health and the effectiveness of preventative skills and behaviors developed for wellness. The CC works preventatively with the incarcerated population including those not in the mental health delivery system to provide incarcerated patient access, outreach, and prevention wellness strategies.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.